The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

It seems that the first month of the new year is wrapping things up with films featuring several Oscar caliber artists. From Meryl Streep, to Tom Hanks, to Matt Damon, to Kristen Wiig, and finally to Steven Spielberg, some of this week’s films are the kind that generate Oscar buzz. 

Downsizing

What’s it About? A sci-fish comedy revolving around the life of an average man who decides to join a class of citizens that have decided to shrink themselves to the size of finch inches, so as to escape the stresses associated with as a normal size human, and enjoy the luxuries promised to those who try out this experiment.

The Good: Directed by Oscar winning director Alex Payne , the film tackles important philosophical and existential questions faced by the humans of the 21^st century, in a subtle and comic manner. The film also tackles the relationship between the planet’s current economic system – specifically the human impetus to supersize and mass produce everything – and its effect on the planet and the quality of human life. All this is done of course in a manner that is satirical, thereby swaying the film away from giving out one right answer to the questions audience members may have on the aforementioned topics, and towards quiet contemplation and mere observation.

The Bad: The no clear end point and/or message kind of plot line may lead some audiences  towards confusion. This is especially true for those who like watching movies that have a somewhat classic story telling formula consisting  of four parts: a beginning, rising action, a climax, an ending with a resolution that contains a message.

The Post

What’s it About? Directed by Steven Spielberg, and based on a true story, this political and historical thriller dramatizes the behind the scenes details of a media campaign –led by the first female publisher in America- that sought to expose the US government’s release of false information surrounding the Vitenam war.

The Good:  The film tells a story of the sexism faced by Katherine Graham (played by Meryl Streep), within the context of a much larger battle for truth. While most films seeking to tackle the topic of sexism have the tendency to create a cinematic narrative which focuses exclusively on some female character’s struggles against some sort of misogyny, this film places sexism within a much larger paradigm. This makes the treatment of this topic much more relatable , and less direct.

The Bad:  The film’s music score – composed by John Williams – seems to be quiet ordinary for a historical and political thriller of this magnitude. While it is not essentially a bad musical score, it does not measure up to the brilliance of the film’s other elements; the plot line, the acting, the cinematography, the lighting etc. It is almost as if it were treated like an afterthought. 

Ghost House

What’s it About? A horror film revolving around a young couple who find themselves being haunted by a demonic spirit, after they disrespect a Ghost House (haunted house).

The Good: There is something quiet classic about the nature of this horror film; from the plot line to the cinematography, to the scene in the trailer in which a woman is screaming as she is being chased, the elements of a classic horror movie are all front and center.

The Bad: While classic may read as a good sign for some audiences, it may translate into boring and expected for other audiences. We have to say that this film isn’t as creative as some films in the same genre, but it does the job of keeping you at the edge of your seat.

12 Strong

What’s it About? The film offers a dramatic account of the story behind the first American Special Forces team deployed to Afghanistan after 9/11. The team must work with an Afghan warlord to take down the Taliban.

The Good: The film starts Chris Hemsworth, an actor who is highly seasoned, when it comes to movies containing intense action scenes like this one. Speaking of intense action scenes, the cinematography and framing of such scenes within this movie is absolutely spectacular; it is really a worthwhile watch for fans of the Action genre.

The Bad: The idea and execution of the plot line can come off as a bit racist at times; the men of the free world come to eradicate terror in a part of the world less civilized than theirs.